ரிஎம்பியினது முரன்பட்ட கருத்துக்களால் கொழும்பில் ஊடகங்களிடையே கருத்து மோதல்.

எதிர்வரும் ஜனாதிபதித் தேர்தலில் பிள்ளையான் எனப்படும் சந்திரகாந்தன் தலைமையிலான தமிழ் மக்கள் விடுதலைப் புலிகள் ஜனாதிபதி மஹிந்த ராஜபக்சவிற்கு ஆதரவான பிரச்சாரங்களை மேற்கொள்ள மாட்டாது என அக்கட்சியின் பொதுச் செயலாளர் எட்வின் சில்வா கைலேஸ்வரராஜா சண்டே ரைம்ஸ் பத்திரிகைக்கு தெரிவித்திருந்தார்.

இந்நிலைமையில் தனது கட்சி ஜனாதிபதி மஹிந்த ராஜபக்சவையே ஆதரிக்கும் என அக்கட்சியின் தலைவர் பிள்ளையான் ஊடகங்களுக்கு தெரிவித்திருந்துடன், குறிப்பிட்ட செய்தி குறுஞ்செய்தி வடிவில் இலங்கை எங்கும் உள்ள கையடக்க தொலைபேசிகளுக்கும் அததெரணவினால் அனுப்பப்பட்டிருந்தது.

அததெரணவின் செய்தி வெளியாகி சில நாட்களில் சண்டே ரைம்ஸ் பத்திரிகை இலங்கை அரச சார்பு ஊடகமான அததெரணவில் பிள்ளையான் இலங்கை அரசிற்கு ஆதரவு வழங்குவதாக தெரிவித்துள்ளபோதும், அக்கட்சியின் பொதுச் செயலாளரினால் தமது பத்திரிகைக்கு வழங்கப்பட்ட செய்திக்கு எவ்வித மறுப்பும் தெரிவிக்கப்படவில்லை எனவும் அவ்வாறு அக்கட்சி தமக்கு தெரிவித்த கருத்தில் மாற்றம் ஏற்பட்டிருந்தால் தெரியப்படுத்தப்பட்டிருக்கும் எனவும் செய்தி வெளியிட்டிருந்தது.

இவ்வாறு இரு ஊடகங்களும் தங்கள் செய்திகளுடன் மோதிக்கொண்டிருக்கையில் அததெரண வை அரசசார்பு ஊடகம் என சண்டே ரைம்ஸ் தெரிவித்ததில் அதிருப்தி அடைந்த ஊடகத்தின் இயக்குனர்சபை சண்டே ரைம்ஸ் இன் பிரதான ஆசிரியருக்கு தமது அதிருப்தியை கடிதம் ஒன்றின் மூலம் தெரியவந்துள்ளது.

அததெரண சண்டே ரைம்ஸ் ற்கு அனுப்பி வைத்துள்ள கடிதம்.

December 6, 2009

Mr. Ranjith Wijewardena
Chairman,
Wijaya Newspapers Ltd.,
Hunupitiya Cross Road,
Colombo2.

Dear Ranjith,

Front page article titled “PILLAYAN’S DOUBLE CROSS: THE STORY BEHIND THE STORY” published in the Sunday Times of December 6th2009

It is with regret and disappointment we write to you with regards to the above article carried in the front page of the Sunday Times of December 6, 2009.

We like to draw your attention to the 3rd paragraph of the said article written by journalist Chris Kamalendran, which refers to “...and the heavily pro-Government Ada Derana SMS news service were quick to claim that the report was wrong”.

Considering the reputation and goodwill your organization and fellow media companies have enjoyed in the past, we would like you to consider the following:

l. We believe the observations made in your above article violate all norms and ethics of journalism where fellow media entities are accused of biases based on one’s own personal judgment. This challenges the independence of the media and compromises the integrity of the newspaper which publishes such content.

2. Ada Derana, being a professional news service and following its normal routine of imparting news, obtained news of TMVP’s support of the President from its leader and Eastern Province Chief Minister Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan and gave it due exposure. Therefore, it is wrong for your newspaper to allege that Ada Derana carried this message due to its “pro Government” stance.

3. We regretfully need to remind you of the ability for all news services to carry such frivolous and unfounded charges against fellow media organization, but refrain from doing so due to certain practices and traditions of this noble industry which you, as a founder of the newspaper business would appreciate above all else.

4. We are also reluctantly compelled to consider the fact that since your group also has its

SMS based news service this sort of unfounded allegation could provide Daily Mirror
SMS alerts with an unfair advantage.

We are confident you understand and appreciate the seriousness of this matter and will take necessary steps with immediate effect to ensure those who are responsible for this violation are dealt with suitably.

Our support for one another is crucial to ensure the independence and longevity of this industry and we believe you will ensure such unprofessional reporting will not be tolerated in a newspaper group of repute such as yours, which is held in high esteem by the general public of this country.

Finally we would like to emphasize the fact that we are a truly professional media organization which takes immense pride in operating a complete independent stance in all aspects of business activity free of even investor bias which as you know hardly any media house in Sri Lanka can claim.

Awaiting your response and rectification of this situation.


Thanking you.
Yours sincerely,
POWERHOUSE LTD


Signed: Laksiri Wickramage
Chairman.


CC:
Mr. Sinha Ratnatunga, Editor - Sunday Times

சண்டே ரைமஸ் ன் செய்தி

Pillayan’s double cross: The story behind the story

By Chris Kamalendran
The Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP) opted to support President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the upcoming Presidential elections, barely two days after the party decided to withhold support to the President.

Mr. Chandrakanthan Last week’s exclusive front page report in the Sunday Times about the decision by the TMVP not to join the political campaign to re-elect President Rajapaksa triggered off a string of new developments, but the TMVP has not contradicted its report in this newspaper.

Last Sunday, the state-run Independent Television Network, the government’s official website news.lk and the heavily pro-Government Ada Derana SMS news service were quick to claim that the report was wrong. They quoted TMVP leader and Eastern Province Chief Minister Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan alias Pillayan as saying the report was incorrect and the TMVP would support Mr. Rajapaksa.

Yet, until yesterday neither Mr. Chandrakanthan nor his party’s General Secretary, Edwin Silva Kailasaraja, who was the source for the report, spoke to the Sunday Times to make any comment on the report.

Amidst denials by a section of the state media, Government officials hurriedly summoned Mr. Chandrakanthan and a TMVP delegation for an unscheduled meeting in Colombo to discuss their grievances. The Chief Minister was also told to say he denied the Sunday Times report and would extend support for President Rajapaksa before the meeting could take place. The TMVP had been warned of consequences, including the withdrawal of commando security to their frontline leaders.

The Sunday Times reported last week that the Eastern Provinces’ largest Tamil political party, now with the Government, would not campaign for President Mahinda Rajapaksa. This is what MVP General Secretary Kailasaraja said in that report: “Thirteen of our 15 politburo members who took part in the meeting supported this move.” The meeting was chaired by Mr. Pillayan and lasted three hours.The Sunday Times has learnt that the decision of the politburo was recorded in the minutes.

Since, Mr. Chandrakanthan was asked to deny the report, a TMVP official has taken copies for safe keeping. During the unscheduled meeting they held with Senior Presidential Advisor Basil Rajapaksa last Tuesday, Mr. Chandrakanthan placed the TMVP demands that had prompted their decision. The main one was the removal of Eastern Province Governor Mohan Wijewickrema, who, the TMVP alleges, is preventing the provincial administration from carrying out development work. Mr. Rajapaksa had asked for four months time to look into the matter.

The TMVP delegation had also pointed out that Ministers of the Central Government were engaging in development work without consulting the Provincial Council. They claimed this was undermining their work. They also alleged that a bonus seat in the EPC which the TMVP was entitled to was being blocked by Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan alias Karuna, now a member of the ruling Sri Lanka Freedom Party. (SLFP)

Senior Minister and ruling UPFA General Secretary Susil Premajayantha, who also took part in the talks, told the Sunday Times that the issue relating to the bonus seat would be resolved soon. He said the ministers would also be advised to co-ordinate all activity with the EPC. “We had certain problems and have now sorted them out,” he added.

As a result of the meeting, triggered by last week’s the Sunday Times report, the TMVP delegation has now agreed to support President Rajapaksa at the Presidential Election campaign.